Ibogaine therapy for addiction: Consumer views from online fora.
Michaela Barber, John Gardner, Michael Savic, Adrian Carter
The International journal on drug policy September 1, 2020 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2020.102857 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative thematic analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 101 |
| Population | Contributors to Reddit and Drugs Forum discussing ibogaine therapy |
| Intervention | Ibogaine therapy |
| Topics | Addiction Ibogaine |
| Keywords | Online fora Ibogaine therapy ibogaine Ibogaine treatment Ibogaine's use Psychedelic experience Online communities Reddit Platforms Online spaces Peer support Community Resources Addiction support addiction Addiction therapy Addiction treatment Positive psychological changes Harm reduction Risks Evidence-based information Personal experiences |
| Citations | 16 |
| Key findings | Online forums are a key resource for information about ibogaine therapy, where personal experiences and evidence-based information are valued, and discussions emphasize pharmacological mechanisms alongside positive psychological changes from the psychedelic experience. |
Abstract
Background: Ibogaine is a psychedelic drug used by for-profit clinics and lay-people to treat addiction, despite some reported fatalities and a lack of rigorous clinical research. Little is known about ibogaine therapy from a consumer perspective. Online discussions generate and disseminate information about ibogaine therapy and provide a window into how people understand ibogaine's risks and uses. We examined views expressed in online fora in order to describe a consumer perspective of ibogaine therapy for addiction, and to elucidate the role of online fora in mediating people's understanding of, and engagement with ibogaine.
Methods: We thematically analysed 40 threads comprising posts from 101 individual contributors from two popular online fora; Reddit (n = 20) and Drugs Forum (n = 20).
Results: Our analysis identified three primary themes: (1) online fora as a resource for do-it-yourself research; (2) the therapeutic interaction in ibogaine therapy, and; (3) therapeutic mechanisms of ibogaine. Online fora were a key resource for information about ibogaine therapy, where personal experiences and evidence-based information were valued. Treatment arrangements, risks, and harm reduction were discussed at length by forum participants. Discussions of therapeutic effects focused on pharmacological mechanisms but positive psychological changes resulting from the psychedelic experience were also reported. Clinic-based treatment was preferred by many forum participants due to safety concerns, but money and time and treatment intent sometimes necessitated lay-administration of ibogaine. Microdosing of ibogaine was also frequently discussed.
Conclusion: Online fora appear to have facilitated a sense of community where individuals are held to account for the success of ibogaine therapy. Fora discussions illustrate that neuroscientific explanations of addiction and behaviour have explanatory salience for people involved in ibogaine therapy. Online fora could be used as a platform for clinician and peer-led support and harm-reduction interventions, and for further research monitoring treatment practices and long-term outcomes.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on ibogaine for addiction, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| A phenomenological analysis of the subjective experience elicited by ibogaine in the context of a drug dependence treatment Patients with substance-related disorders | 2017 | Qualitative study | n = 22 |
| Treating drug dependence with the aid of ibogaine: A qualitative study Patients with substance use disorders, including psychostimulant users | 2017 | Qualitative study | |
| A phenomenological investigation into the lived experience of ibogaine and its potential to treat opioid use disorders Individuals who underwent ibogaine treatment for an opioid use disorder | 2018 | Qualitative study | |
| Underground ibogaine use for the treatment of substance use disorders: A qualitative analysis of subjective experiences. Participants with substance use disorders who self-treated with ibogaine | 2023 | Qualitative study | n = 13 |
| The visionary cure of the addiction war? Ibogaine: social context, subcultural identity, and implications for drug policy Humans | 2011 | Comparative ethnography |
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- A systematic literature review of clinical trials and therapeutic applications of ibogaine. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment July 1, 2022
- A landscape analysis of psychedelic retreat organizations advertising online PLoS One May 2, 2025
- Impact of psychedelics on craving in addiction: A systematic review. Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) February 1, 2025
- Self-reported experiences and perspectives on using psychedelics to manage opioid use among participants of two Reddit communities. Addiction (Abingdon, England) January 16, 2025
Cites 14
- The ibogaine medical subculture. Journal of Ethnopharmacology January 4, 2008
- Treatment of opioid use disorder with ibogaine: detoxification and drug use outcomes. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse 2018
- Ibogaine treatment outcomes for opioid dependence from a twelve-month follow-up observational study. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse 2018
- The Anti-Addiction Drug Ibogaine and the Heart: A Delicate Relation Molecules January 29, 2015
- Treating drug dependence with the aid of ibogaine: a retrospective study. Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) November 1, 2014
and 9 more in the library